🔗 Share this article Sunderland Stage Comeback with Injury-Time Brian Brobbey Leveler to Hold Table-Toppers Arsenal It perhaps wasn't so shocking that the side able to slow Arsenal's championship push would be captained by Granit Xhaka, an ex-Gunner. The substitute Brian Brobbey netted an injury-time leveling goal after late strikes from Bukayo Saka and Trossard had put the visitors in the lead following a early goal from the home side captain Ballard. Turbulent Night for the Premier League Leaders It was a difficult night for the Premier League leaders, but the Gunners have a seven-point lead over City, who are at home Liverpool on the weekend, and Sunderland, though Chelsea could cut the lead to six in Saturday's later game. Xhaka's Impact on Sunderland Xhaka – who left the Emirates Stadium in 2023 looking for what he called a fresh opportunity – has been exceptional in the newly promoted team's midfield this season after joining from Bayer Leverkusen, but the veteran's performances on Wearside will not have surprised Arsenal supporters. The Swiss international revived his Gunners stint under Arteta, who was reluctant to see him leave. Sunderland's Impressive Opening The Black Cats entered the game with no pressure after achieving the best start to a Premier League campaign by a newly promoted club over ten matches since Hull City in the 2008/09 term. A redirected effort from Xhaka against Everton on Monday night had lifted Sunderland up to fourth, a position few local fans would have envisaged before a match began given that their side had spent eight years outside the top flight. Xhaka's Experience and Leadership The player's experience, largely earned during his seven years at Arsenal, and captaincy have helped the team quickly adjust to top-tier football. He appeared to thrive in the physicality of the encounter. First-Half Incidents and Injuries The Arsenal manager, again without Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli, had an initial worry when Merino, leading the line after netting two goals in Tuesday night's three-nil Champions League win at Prague, was caught by an elbow from Ballard as he challenged for a cross into the home box. The forward was able to play on. Eze almost took advantage of an mistake from Le Fée, who lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but the shot soared over the bar. Isidor fired wide at the other end before another lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads between the midfielder and Jurriën Timber, who had to carry on with a bandaged head. Sunderland Take the Lead A tougher setback was to follow for stunned Arsenal. The home team launched a set-piece into the visiting box and the captain held off Declan Rice to drive the shot past David Raya after it was cleared. It was the first goal they had conceded since their last visit to the north-east in September's end, when they had underlined their title credentials with a last-gasp win over the Magpies. Arsenal had kept a team best eight successive shutouts in every match since Nick Woltemade's scored against them at Newcastle's ground. The Gunners Fight Back The Black Cats ensured that it was another difficult outing to the region for the London side, who were pegged back for spells after the interval. They required a moment of quality, and it arrived in the 54th minute. Rice took the ball off Le Fée and a flowing move involving Eze and Merino ended with Saka beating Robin Roefs at his near post. Arsenal pushed for a second goal and the coach introduced a triple substitution to his attack – he brought on Brobbey, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra – midway through the second half. The Winger Extends the Advantage Another moment of skill was not far away. They worked the ball from one flank to the other, and the Belgian, just outside the area, created enough room to fire a right-footed strike into the top corner. Late Leveler from Brobbey The keeper had to be sharp in the final stages as Sunderland pushed for a second goal, but was unable to prevent an spectacular finish from the substitute after the delivery was headed into the penalty area. The goal was greeted by a deafening cheer. Appropriately the defender – like Xhaka another ex-Gunner, this one developed in Arsenal's academy – had the last word with a diving challenge at the toes of the attacker in the game's final moment.